College instructor arrested by Border Patrol for giving food, water to immigrants

An Arizona college instructor was arrested for allegedly giving help to two undocumented immigrants near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Scott Daniel Warren has been accused by U.S. Customs and Border Protection of providing supplies to the individuals in Ajo, Ariz., and now faces a federal harboring charge, the Arizona Republic reports.

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Scott Warren, an instructor at Arizona State University, volunteers with humanitarian group No More Deaths. Warren specifically works around the city of Ajo, Ariz., where, activists state, “almost half of the 128 recovered remains of border crossers (were) found in 2017 in Arizona.” (ASU Faculty Photo)

"After finding their way to 'the Barn' (a building Border Patrol had been monitoring), Warren, 35, met them outside and gave them food and water for approximately three days," the agency's complaint states.

"(One of the migrants) said that Warren took care of them in 'the Barn' by giving them food, water, beds and clean clothes."

However, some are suggesting the arrest of the Arizona State University faculty associate was retaliatory considering the organization that Warren works with, No More Deaths, had just released video of the Border Patrol destroying supplies left for migrants.

"It felt retaliatory in that it occurred less than eight hours after our press conference releasing these findings that implicated Border Patrol," said No More Death volunteer Caitlin Deighan, the group deeming it "suspicious."

'A Day Without Immigrants' protests around the country

"We don't smuggle them, we don't do anything to help them enter the United States, we do nothing illegal," Walker told the Arizona Republic.

"This place that they raided is not in the middle of the desert, it's not hidden anywhere. It's in the city of Ajo, and it's been used for a long time, not to help smuggle migrants, but to give medical care and food and water."

An advocacy group called "No More Deaths" released footage of a Border Patrol agent kicking over water bottles left for immigrants crossing the desert. (No More Deaths via YouTube)

While it's unclear how long Warren has worked with No More Deaths, a press release from the organization called him "instrumental in organizing humanitarian aid in the remote west desert around Ajo."

Warren was released last Thursday on his own recognizance.

Meanwhile, the environmental studies instructor's position at Arizona State University doesn't appear to be threatened, according to a statement from the institution.

"Mr. Warren was not acting in his capacity as an ASU employee at the time of the alleged incident and we have no reason to believe it will impact his ability to fulfill his current duty with the university," said the school.